Proton Beam Therapy studies show Effectiveness of treatment of Mesothelioma and lung Cancer Patients

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan reported in the October issue of the International Journal of radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics that proton beam therapy was effective and well tolerated in patients with inoperable stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  A Swedish group oncologists also confirms the effectiveness of the therapy says proton therapy in mesothelioma patients can be used to provide a better limit dose in lung cancer tissue and tissue can therefore facilitate a higher tumor DOSE.

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, has a complex growth pattern, often eliminating the surgery as a treatment or making complete surgical removal of a very difficult task. Radiation is used in most cases of mesothelioma, locate the malignant cells is difficult.

Mesothelioma Cancer is often located close to other bodies which limit order radiation oncologists in sufficiently high doses ability to successfully attack cancer by using proton beam radiotherapy, can still deep-seated tumours directed with greater accuracy limit damage to the surrounding tissue.  

  Proton therapy uses a beam of protons for irradiating tumors, in contrast to x-ray beams used in conventional radiotherapy.

Researchers in Japan rethought records of patients who were treated with proton beam therapy from november 2001 to July 2008.Patients were given different doses of peripheral located tumors and centrally located tumors.They found that two-year progression-free survival for these doses was 88.7% and 97%, respectively.

The results led Hidetsugu Nakayama, M.D., Ph. d., lead author of the study, saying, "proton beam therapy is safe and effective, if not better than other nonsurgical procedures for the treatment of patients with inoperable stage in NSCLC."

University of Texas m.d.anderson Cancer Center dealt with approximately 150 mesothelioma patients each year and is a pioneer when it comes to proton therapy; Their Proton Therapy Center is one of only seven proton centers in the nation. Mesothelioma patients have access to over 30 specialists on staff that support their multi-disciplinary approach to treat Mesothelioma.

Proton Therapy Safe